Playing the Wrong Game: A Childhood Story About Alignment

When I reflect on my life, I realize that some of my most uncomfortable moments have come when I was living out of alignment—when I was forcing myself into a space that just wasn’t meant for me.

A simple, surface-level example? Basketball.

I "played" basketball in elementary school. And I say "played" loosely because, honestly, I was terrible. The only reason I ever got on the court was because the rules required everyone to have some playtime. And when my turn came? Anxiety. Pure anxiety.

The truth is, I loved being part of the team. I loved spending time with my friends, cheering from the bench, and all the little moments that came with it. But the actual playing part? That was awful for me. I wasn’t good at it, and deep down, I knew it.

Looking back, I see this as one of those early moments where I learned an important lesson: just because something looks fun from the outside doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for me. And that’s okay.

So often, we push ourselves into situations because we think we should be there—because our friends are, because it’s expected, because we don’t want to feel left out. But if something consistently brings more anxiety than joy, maybe it’s a sign to step back and ask: Is this truly for me?

That lesson has carried me far beyond the basketball court. It’s helped me recognize when I’m forcing something that doesn’t align with who I am, and it’s given me the courage to pivot toward things that truly do.

Because life is too short to keep playing a game that doesn’t feel right.